Using
wild yams for issues affecting women's sexual health has been
going on for a very long time and because of this you will unfortunately
find a lot of misinformation about it. That is why we are providing
this article so that you can get factual, science based information
that will help empower your decisions in using wild yam products.

Since
the hit show on Netflix called Grace
and Frankie which stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin has
mentioned yam lube it seems more and more women are looking
at the benefits of using it. However, there are actually some
risks to using some of the wild yam products on the market and
that is why we feel it important to review this information.

Below is the Fictional "Say Grace
Organic Yam Personal Lubricant" yam lube as seen on the
show Grace
and Frankie

The
show Grace
and Frankie actually bring up issues that have always
been important to our holistic sexual health company with regard
to sexual products such as parabens
in personal lubricants, the importance of sexual products
maintaining a long shelf-life while still being healthy and of
course sexual products that are appealing to consumers while still
being eco and animal friendly. We are thrilled to see discussions
in a show as well done as Grace and Frankie is written
and performed to help the public become more aware of sexual issues
that are not often discussed such as sex
and aging, sexual products
and their impact on the environment
as well as the toxins that are
still in many sexual products.

However,
the problem with promoting this fantasy product called "Say
Grace Organic Yam Personal Lubricant" is that it may
lead women to believe that something like this works and is safe
for everyone to use. Additionally, it may have them start looking
for wild yam products... specifically yam lube. However, you need
to understand that there is no such thing as an FDA approved yam
lubricant on the market and there is a reason for that.

Personal lubricants
sold in the U.S. have not always been seen as medical devices
but because of newer laws they now must be cleared by the FDA
in order to sell them commercially. As lubricants enter the bloodstream
their ingredients must now be tested by FDA laboratories to ensure
that there are no adverse effects on humans and are classified
as either a Class I or a Class II Medical Device. This means that
yam lubes, yam creams and yam gels are being sold as nutritional
supplements which have very loose regulations and as many of you
know there are serious concerns with many nutritional supplements
such as products that do not contain what they claim, products
that contain harmful additives and those that mislead consumers
into thinking they will provide certain health benefits when they
may not.

Do
Wild Yam Products Actually Work?

The
first thing you should know is that products such as yam lube, yam
gels and yam creams are usually sold to women with a warning that
they are not to be used internally. Sellers of them often indicate
that they are to be used on the outside of the vagina (outer labia)
and are marketed with claims that they are solutions for menopause
and PMS. Yet, they typically will have the disclaimer following
these claims that say "These statements have not been evaluated
by the Food and Drug Administration". You may wonder why one
cannot use them internally and this is most likely due to the fact
that they cannot legally be used as a lubricant unless they are
approved by the FDA. Furthermore, some women report burning and
rashes from using them most likely due to allergic reactions and
sensitivities. However, let's delve into why yams are so widely
talked about when it comes to women's sexual health in the first
place.

Wild
yam contains a chemical called diosgenin which has been used as
an additive in steroids such as estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA). The diosgenin is found in the bulb and root of the plant
and are prepared as a concentrated liquid extract. There are only
twelve types of yam that are considered edible and with over six
hundred types of wild yam those that are typically used to extract
the diosgenin are from those varieties that are too bitter to eat.
Because of the diosgenin found in wild yams it has long been seen
as a natural alternative to estrogen therapy, menstrual cramps,
vaginal dryness, osteoporosis and increasing sex drive in both men
and women as well as in breast development.

However,
the truth is that while wild yam does have diosgenin and is often
claimed to be a natural form of DHEA it does not actually convert
into estrogen in the body naturally. The misconception that there
are hormones in wild yam came from labs that chemically altered
diosgenin in order to make progesterone, androgens, and cortisone.
In fact, using wild yam creams, gels and taking wild yam supplements
or eating wild yams does not increase DHEA levels. It also does
not seem to affect levels of hormones such as follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH), estradiol, or progesterone despite often being marketed
to women as natural progesterone. Studies on using wild yam have
shown that applying wild yam cream to the skin does not typically
relieve menopausal symptoms. You may have seen positive reviews
of yam products that celebrate such benefits but this could be due
to a few reasons such as: a psychological placebo effect, false
reviews made by or paid for by the manufacturer or even a more dangerous
possibility that the products contain synthetic hormones that can
cause adverse health problems in many women.

While
most studies show no benefits in taking wild yam supplements or
using an external vaginal cream to reduce menopausal symptoms there
has been one study that showed the improvement of sex hormones,
lipids and antioxidants when postmenopasual women increased their
diet by eating two thirds of staple food with yam for 30 days. However,
it could be easily said that eating increased fiber and healthier
food (such as yams) than their normal diet would have made the same
difference as people who simply increase their vegetable, fruit
and other healthy high fiber foods also see similar effects.

Avoid
Dangerous Scams

Some
wild yam creams that claim to be natural and healthy for you may
actually contain synthetic progesterone which can cause serious
health issues for people with hormone-sensitive conditions. This
is especially true for people who have had blood clots, strokes
and for those women who take hormone replacement therapy or birth
control pills. In addition, women with health issues such as diabetes,
fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovary
should also avoid such products.

So
What Do Wild Yams Really Do?

Wild
yams have anti-inflammatory properties so they can help reduce inflammation
and pain for conditions affected such as rheumatoid arthritis. They
are also known to help reduce digestive issues such as flatulence
and irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, because wild yams contain
an alkaloid compound called dioscoretine they help to lower blood
sugar levels. They are high in antioxidants, promote HDL cholesterol
(the good type), help to relax your muscles due to the alkaloids
found in them and help to regulate metabolism.

Allergies

The
most common report of health issues with wild yams are skin irritations
and allergic rashes. Exposure to yams for those who have allergies
to them can also cause asthmatic effects. In addition, wild
yam taken in high doses may cause an upset stomach and induce vomiting.

The
Bottom Line

We
recommend sticking yams in your mouth rather than using them as
a primary lubricant source when there are better options. That
is not to say that putting yam lube up your hoo-ha is bad for you,
they are just not going to deliver what many claim they will such
as bring your vagina back to age twenty. Also, if you do decide
to make a homemade yam lube recipe make sure you understand that
even organic yams can contain pesticides and bacteria which the
vaginal mucus membrane will directly absorb as any toxins you insert
can go directly into your blood stream. That is why we really do
not recommend using vegetables in the vagina or rectum.

You
are best using lubricants that are pure and natural such as coconut
oil, hempseed oil, etc.. However, because you cannot use oil with
certain sex toys, condoms and diaphragms we always recommend using
a paraben free waterbased lubricant preferably with healing and
soothing ingredients such as vitamin E and aloe which are found
in lubricants such as our top selling Aloe
Cadabra or waterbased
coconut oil hybrid formulas. See
a full list of paraben free
lubricants that are waterbased.

The most important thing to remember if you are having issues with
vaginal dryness and/or a hormone imbalance that is impacting your
sex drive, fertility or due to menopause then we recommend you address
the most important thing you could which is increase your nutritional
intake through healthy eating. Nutritious food has a guaranteed
positive impact on the body for anyone at any age. Furthermore,
do not underestimate the positive health benefits that a solid nutritional
intake has on your sexual performance, libido and general sexual
well-being. There are a few books that we highly recommend when
it comes to nutrition-

You can use the
following oils as a natural lubricant as long as you are not using
something that cannot tolerate oil such as a condom, sex toy or diaphragm-
coconut oil, pure aloe vera gel, olive oil, flax-seed oil, vitamin
E oil and almond oil. See
a full list of paraben free lubricants
that are waterbased.